This award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the university. All Supportive Professional Staff are eligible. Individuals who were nominated previously but did not win are eligible again.

Four awards in the amount of $1,500 will be presented. In addition, each recipient will receive a plaque in recognition of their accomplishments.

To be eligible to receive this award, an employee must be actively employed at the time the award is presented in April 2015.

The nominator is asked to address the following topics in a letter addressed to the SPSC Awards Committee:

Significant contributions made by this individual to the university. Be certain to address how the nominee has supported and/or advanced NIU’s strategic initiatives. Consider outstanding service, significance of contribution to NIU, support for the university’s mission and professionalism. It is helpful for nominators to indicate and differentiate between contributions which are directly job-related and contributions that go above and beyond the nominee’s regular responsibilities.

Evidence of commitment to her/his professional development.

Nominee’s involvement with committees or organizations at NIU, or within their profession.

A completed application packet consists of the Nomination Referral Form and four letters: a nomination letter and three letters of support. The support letters must address the above topics. Only these four letters will be considered for each nominee. Each nomination must include the name, title and department of the nominee and nominator’s name, title and department.

Nominators are responsible for submitting the complete set of nomination materials.

The Nomination Referral Form, nomination letter and three letters of support should be sent to Lesley Gilbert and Matthew Parks, co-chairpersons of the SPS Awards Committee, and must be received in Room 610 of the Holmes Student Center (HRS Center for Training and Professional Development), by 4:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1. Nominees will be asked to forward vitas when they are informed by the committee of their nominations.

Awards will be announced by the president in February 2014, and awards will be presented at the April reception hosted by the president.